Exploring China’s Navy: The Warships and Submarines Powering Its Fleet

The Chinese Navy, known as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been advancing its Navy fleet including warships and submarines over the past several decades. There are currently 427 vessels in the PLAN Navy, according to the military data site, the World Directory of Modern Military Warships. (These are the nations where China is investing the most money.)

24/7 Wall St. referenced the World Directory of Modern Military Warships to find all active ships in China. The ship and submarine classes are ranked alphabetically. Any ships on order were excluded, as are smaller patrol vessels, mine countermeasures, and smaller amphibious assault ships. We included supplemental information regarding the type of vessel and examples of it. With a median hull age of just over 14 years, China’s Navy controls a military force consisting of relatively newer vessels. According to WDMMW, the country has produced the equivalent of a Royal Navy fleet each year, all toward its goal of overtaking the U.S. in naval power.

Here is a closer look at the warships and submarines in China’s Navy:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding China’s Navy gives context to its modernization effort and geopolitical standing. Knowing which specific warships and submarines China employs also helps to understand their operational capacity when using these vessels.

Fujian-class

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Examples: Fujian

Han-class

• Type: Attack submarine
• Examples: Long March 3

Jiangdao-class

• Type: Corvette
• Examples: Datong, Shangrao, Qinzhou

Jianghu II class

• Type: Frigate
• Examples: Shaoguan

Jianghu V class

• Type: Frigate
• Examples: Beihai, Foshan

Jiangkai I class

Modern Chinese 1/2400 miniatur... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by When Imagination Fails

• Type: Frigate
• Examples: Ma’anshan, Wenzhou

Jiangkai II class

USS Stethem departs Shanghai. (CC BY 2.0) by Official U.S. Navy Page

• Type: Frigate
• Examples: Xuzhou, Zhoushan

Jiangwei II class

• Type: Frigate
• Examples: Yichang, Huludao

Jin-class

• Type: Ballistic missile submarine
• Examples: Long March 11

Kilo-class

INS Sindhughosh (S55) (CC0 1.0) by Chanakyathegreat~commonswiki

• Type: Attack submarine
• Examples: Great Wall 369

Kuznetsov-class

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Examples: Liaoning, Shandong

Luhai-class

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Shenzhen

Luhu-class

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Harbin, Qingdao

Luyang I class

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Guangzhou, Wuhan

Luyang II class

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Lanzhou, Haikou

Luyang III class

PLANS DDG-172 KunMing (CC0 1.0) by Dream_Riser

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Guiyang, Nanjing

Luzhou-class

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Shenyang, Shijiazhuang

Ming-class

• Type: Attack submarine
• Examples: Great Wall 305

Qing-class

• Type: Ballistic missile submarine
• Examples: Expedition 201

Shang-class

• Type: Nuclear attack submarine
• Examples: Long March 7

Song-class

• Type: Attack submarine
• Examples: Great Wall 320

Sovremenny-class

PLAN destroyer Sovremenny bridge (BY-SA 3.0) by Astrowikizhang at English Wikipedia

• Type: Destroyer
• Examples: Fuzhou, Taizhou

Yuan-class

• Type: Attack submarine
• Examples: Great Wall 330

Yushen-class

• Type: Amphibious assault ship
• Examples: Hainan, Anhui

Yuting II class

Luipan Shan (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Hugh Llewelyn

• Type: Amphibious assault ship
• Examples: Haiyang Shan, Yandang Shan

Yuzhao-class

• Type: Amphibious assault ship
• Examples: Kunlun Shan, Jinggang Shan